though BMW The 5 Series and i5 were both revealed a few weeks ago, we’ll have to wait a little longer to properly see the upcoming high performance M5.
The latest spy shots of a camouflaged BMW M5 prototype at the Nurburgring show more of the front bumper than we’ve seen so far.
The front bumper looks like an aggressive unit with lots of openings and vents to keep the car cool.
As previously reported, the next BMW M5 will reportedly feature a version of the plug-in hybrid system that appeared in the XM SUV.
In the XM Label Red, the setup combines a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 petrol with an electric motor to produce a combined 550kW of power and 1000Nm of torque.
The current M5 uses a non-electric 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 460kW and 750Nm.
The XM has a hybrid-specific M xDrive all-wheel drive system that includes an electronic rear differential lock in the rear axle transmission.
It also features an active roll system, which is used on plug-in hybrid versions of the regular 5 Series and the electric i5.
The claimed electric range in the XM is up to 88km thanks to a 25.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
Whether the M5 will feature the same version of the PHEV powertrain, or whether it will be held back a bit to give the XM some breathing room as a flagship, remains to be seen.
In June last year Bimmerpost forum member ynguldyn, who claims to have gleaned information on future products from leaks within BMW, says the next M5 will also be available in a Touring wagon body style.
The sedan, codenamed G90, will reportedly enter production in July 2024, with the G99 Touring following in November.
It’s expected that the new M5’s interior won’t stray too far from the 5 Series/i5 look, though it will most likely get the M treatment.
The dashboard on the 5 Series/i5, like some recent BMW models, is dominated by a curved display housing a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen running the Linux-based BMW 8.5 Operating System.
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